State of the Art Funeral Chapel Opens Adjacent to Four Major Jewish Cemeteries; Mourners Can View Live Web Cast of Funeral Service.

WEST BABYYLON, N.Y. -- Mourners unable to attend a funeral can view it live on a web cast, one of the numerous state of the art features of the Star of David Memorial Chapel, a new chapel formerly opening here today at 1236 Wellwood Avenue. This is the first memorial chapel to be built in the New York area that is directly adjacent to four major Jewish cemeteries. Under New York law, funeral chapels cannot be built on the cemetery itself.

The new chapel will also offer graveside services appealing to the more than 50% of Jewish families who prefer a small service directly at the cemetery rather than holding a separate service in a large funeral chapel followed by a long procession to the cemetery.

"We believe we are the only funeral chapel the tri-state area to show a funeral on a live web cast," said Kevin Gray, president and funeral director of Star of David. DVD's of the funeral service will also be available.

Families can choose the advantage of a small graveside ceremony or in inclement weather use the chapel which is literally a one minute drive from the major Long Island Jewish cemeteries including New Montifiore, Beth Moses, Wellwood, and Mt. Ararat. It is also a short distance from the non-sectarian Pinelawn Memorial Park where many Jewish people are buried.

The trend toward graveside services has been growing over the last 20 years until it now represents 50% to 60% of all Jewish services in the New York area, according to Mr. Gray.

"In good weather, families can choose a graveside service and if it is very cold or hot, raining or snowing, we offer an indoor service in our new chapel with great proximity to the cemeteries, avoiding a long funeral procession and other limitations," Mr. Gray said. "We find that baby boomers who look for expediency and one-stop shopping prefer graveside services and, in addition, because many people today are outliving their contemporaries, expected attendance for a chapel service at large funeral parlors has greatly diminished," he noted.

The Star of David Memorial Chapel was designed by Brian Fisher, an architect who has created residential and commercial buildings in Nassau and Suffolk counties since 1990. The building combines contemporary features with key elements symbolic of traditional synagogues and light colors. Built as a concrete block, the chapel eliminates ambient noises, a key feature because the chapel is located on a busy road.

The chapel provides an intimate and appropriate setting for a small service. It also offers a climate-controlled environment with comfortable seating. Pew seating for approximately 80 mourners is considerably smaller than larger chapels which accommodate 300 or more.

Other technology features offered at the chapel are a virtual casket display. Buyers who are reluctant to view depressing rows of caskets, can see them displayed on computer screens, Mr. Gray said. Star of David provides a full range of services with prices significantly lower than neighboring funeral homes. By choosing a less costly, non-commercial location for the chapel, the overhead has been minimized. In addition, Mr. Gray, was the founder of Direct Casket, a company that sells caskets directly to consumers at approximately 50%, lower prices than most funeral homes. He will continue his philosophy of offering significantly lower prices on caskets sold through the new chapel.